Parasites

Get rid of those pesky critters.

Your pet is an easy target for parasites and small insects. Common parasites like ticks, fleas and heartworm-carrying mosquitoes feed on your pets, potentially infecting them with many dangerous diseases. Discover how these tiny pests can cause big problems.

Fleas

These bloodsucking insects feed on mammals and lay eggs in their fur. Fleas can transmit harmful parasites like tapeworms and Murine typhus and can cause dermatitis and anemia. One flea can reproduce nearly 50 times a day, so a flea infestation can be a substantial threat to your pet’s well-being. Flea infestations often spread throughout your home; fleas will live in your carpet and furniture, making them tough to eradicate.

Ticks

Ticks are found lurking in shrubs and tall grass. When they attach to your pets, they bite them and feed on their blood. Although it is nearly microscopic, the tick represents one of the most potent dangers to your pet’s health. A single tick bite can carry a host of potentially fatal diseases including Lyme disease, typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis.

Although rare, animal-to-human transfer is possible, making the tick hazardous to you and your family. You should inspect yourself and your pet after any woodland outdoor activities.

Heartworm

Heartworm-carrying mosquitoes can be a lethal danger to your pet. Once a mosquito’s bite transmits heartworm larva to your animal, it then slowly develops and makes its way toward the heart. There, it reproduces within your pet’s pulmonary artery, leading to constricted blood flow, heart disease and major organ failure.